National Republican., 1887-07-22
METEOROLOGICAL WONDERS.
somo of the objects to be Viewed
Through an Instrument.

"suppose We look at q ny's tonguen
"All right" said |. "Flles have been In
vestIGatirg me for long time, and nothing
would give me more pleasure than TO see a
ily's tongue transflxed and to Investigate 1t
calmly under a microscope"
Accordingly Mr., Hopkins placed the sui
jcct in position, and, turning tho table,
brought my eye TO bear upon the object.
The fy's tongue is certainly complicated
pioco Of mechanism. No description would
do II justice; 1t must be seen to be appre.
ciated.
The next subject was q section OF horse
fly, showing the complete kit Of tools with
which he pursues his investigation into the
nesh OF horses. There was fine saw, with
teeth plainly visible, piercer for irritating
the wound, which caused the blood TO flow,
and all arranged for use. Then we looked
at the eaw-iy, which frequouts rose and
| gooscberry bushes, and saws places In the
twjgs and deposits its eggs. The singing
apparatus Of the ordinary honey bee next
claimed our attention. Having mad some
experience with bees business depart
ment, | congratulated myself that the
mystery OF its operation was about TO be
unveiled. The sight confirmed me IN my
| purpose previously formed, OF giving bee
hives wider berth in the future. A bees
n
| scope. Teeth project from the side like q
| swordllsh, and attached to 1t is the poison
| bag, which contains the article which, when
| inserted into mans hand by an enterpris-
| ing bee, makes him wish that he had never
been born.
"You will see,n said MIR. Hopkins, "that
| by increasing the power OF the microscope
| the formation OF parts Of the various objects
| examined ls clearly shown, and the more
| closely they are examined the more com.
| plete they appear. There are no botched
| Jobs In nature"
"Do your Investigations" asked, 'lead
| to the conclusion that oil these complete
and beautiful things were evolved from nm
incomplete germSn
| Mr.. Hopkins replied very emphatlcally
| "No, sir; they do not. i take no stock In
| the modern conclusion on that point.n
| The hornet was next investigated. It has
| been said that he differs from the flea In
this respect, that when you put your finger
on him you know he is there. Much as We
dislike to meet the honet and be inter
viewed by him, especially when seated on
the grass eating loaf cake at picnic, he ap-
pears remarkably well under microscope.
Mr.. Hopkins called my attention to this To-
teresting fact. On the edge OF the hornets
wings are q eeries of hooks, which, at GER
tain times, ore used to hook the wings to-
gether, but no one has yet succeeded In
hooking or unlocking the wings OF the cap
tured insect. The hooks were plainly seen
through the instrument. A bees foot and
fiinged paddle OF the water beetle closed
our Investigations among the irsect tribe
A section u the leaf Of the eutcher plant
was next shown. IL was covered with little
stars perfectly formed. These stars ar,
composed Of sick, and II the leaf is burned
the stars are not consumed.
Diatoms are subject for special study
They are vegetable plants, comprising in
Vulnerable varieties, which can only b,
seen and classified by the aid of the micro
scope. Diatoms have been seen upon
which 125000 transverse lines have beer
shown by the aid of the most powerful
microscopes. Polarized light is anothe
department Of microscopical study. Tn,
| polarizer is attached to the microscope, ant
| by its means the most beautiful forms ant
colors are seen. There are an infinite nun
ber Of available subjects In this realm
Chemical crystals, mineral subjects, nlcke
! prisms, and objects from vegetable life al
show vast variety of colors and forms.